Moviemans: Let's Make a Supercomputer! May1-May8,2010

[Fitseries3]

Heya, didnt see this anywhere so i thought i would pass it on to TPU...

Guys and Gals,

I had an idea and need your help.

I've told many people over the years "You wouldn't believe the computational power that exists at XtremeSystems." I get replies like "Yea, sure, a bunch of kids with gaming computers"

You and I know better. Some of the fastest and most powerful machines in the world reside with the members of this forum.

This is the goal:
For one week--from Saturday, May 1 to Saturday, May 8--try and bring everyone in the forum onto our WCG team and see what we can show for computational power. We're aiming big here: match the worlds top supercomputers.

This isn't going to be easy and we need you all to make it work, but if we can get everyone involved there's a double benefit. We do some good work that week and also we make a statement that XtremeSystems is just what the title says: Xtreme!

Now WCG does take a few days to get "up to speed" so if anyone wants to jump in ahead of time that is good too.

I do have a goal in mind and to reach that would take app 40,000 P4-3000's or the equal. That is more than doable with the machines that exist here if everyone gets involved.

Now I know some of you will be thinking there goes that old fart with his WCG thing again but my main motivation is to show the power that is here. WCG comes into it because I know it well, have access to the guy who runs it and they can show us real numbers from what we do (tflops, etc.)

I've already spoken with them to ensure their servers can handle what we can bring, so there's no worries there either. I did ask them twice as it's IBM that provides the servers and well, ahh, they run stock but they assure me they can handle the load of whatever we can bring.

Now I know you guys unfamiliar with Distributed Computing work and WCG in general and what it does; the short version is that it's essentially AIDS, cancer, and Muscular Dystrophy research.

The cost to you, essentially the electrical cost of running your machine at 100% load for a week, maybe $2.00 max in electricity on an overclocked quad core computer.

Everything you need to know about setup (maybe 5-7 minutes) is here:
http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/showthread.php?t=230613

Feel free to ask myself or any of the other guys in the WCG section and we will be more than happy to answer questions.

Thanks for reading.

Movieman

so long as i have my Megarig running i am going to participate.

Source: EMAIL & http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/announcement.php?f=207&a=75

 

[FordGT90Concept]

Rant:

Spoiler

A super computer can be repurposed in under an hour, distributed computing cannot. The only reason why distributed computing exists is because super computers cost a lot of money.

Moreover, WCG isn't the benchmark for super computers, it's LinPACK (consistent workload for multi-processor benchmarking). Calculating teraflops from WCG projects is no more than an educated guess.

It is already known that the output of F@H and other projects exceeds that of the super computers on the Top500 list but their purposes are completely different and thus, the comparison serves no purpose except some number for said projects to brag about.

Now I know some of you will be thinking there goes that old fart with his WCG thing again but my main motivation is to show the power that is here.

Yes, with an ePeen issue to boot.

Contribute what you can, when you can. This isn't a race. Anyone who makes it out to be are in it for the wrong reasons.

 

[El Fiendo]

This isn't a race. Anyone who makes it out to be are in it for the wrong reasons.

This was not once mentioned, nor hinted at in the post. You read into these things too much, eh?

Perhaps its just a relatively effective benchmark to determine group hardware output that has the added benefit of charity / donated time. Linpack also can't compile the information of many computers across the globe together.

 

[DonInKansas]

Why would the group here swap to crunching for another site just to puff up their e-peen? If there were a legit reason I could see it but this seems to just be for site bragging rights.

Unless you're hinting at TPU doing something similar......

 

[PaulieG]

I believe when we asked XS to join us for a crunching event awhile back, they had no interest. I would be willing to join them for this, if they turned around and did the same for us. Otherwise I see no reason to do it. It's really a promotional idea to get more people crunching for their team.

 

[blkhogan]

Its a great thing to do don't get me wrong, but Im dedicated to the TPU crunching team first and foremost. Im glad they are doing it. It will expose WCG to a lot more people which is always a good thing. I wish them luck. Crunch on!!

 

[El Fiendo]

I will also not be participating as I already participate with my own projects for TPU. However I hope they surpass, or at least match, the output of the top supercomputers, even if the final amount of Teraflops measured is considered 'erroneous'.

 

[Mindweaver]

They could easily take there numbers, and combine it with ours as a combined contribution.

have access to the guy who runs it and they can show us real numbers from what we do (tflops, etc.)

they could have those same guys combine it as one team.. with little to no change. I usually have around 170 WU's waiting to be verified at any given time. I wouldn't want to change teams for a week and come back.. I don't know guys what do you think? good idea or not? I mean we are all doing this together anyway.


Edit: No disrespect to XS those guys rock!

 

[theonedub]

I believe when we asked XS to join us for a crunching event awhile back, they had no interest. I would be willing to join them for this, if they turned around and did the same for us. Otherwise I see no reason to do it. It's really a promotional idea to get more people crunching for their team.

I agree. I'll be keeping my production with TPU! thanks

Speaking of promotions to get people to crunch for the team, what's the news on the next contest to promoter our team ?

 

[El Fiendo]

I'd even go so far as to say Movieman does not want people from other teams jumping ship for his. His boast relates to the prowess of Xtreme Systems, not to the whole of the WCG project. This is also evident in that I haven't seen his post anywhere else but on XtremeSystems and in my e-mail (and of course here now). Now for the people who are members of XS Forums but are on other teams, then its up to them as they are a part of the community he believes can do this.

 

[Mindweaver]

I'd even go so far as to say Movieman does not want people from other teams jumping ship for his. His boast relates to the prowess of Xtreme Systems, not to the whole of the WCG project. This is also evident in that I haven't seen his post anywhere else but on XtremeSystems and in my e-mail (and of course here now). Now for the people who are members of XS Forums but are on other teams, then its up to them as they are a part of the community he believes can do this.

+1 ^^ Well Said Sir!

 

[[Ion]]

I'm a member here as well as over @ XS and I can say for certain that I'm going to be staying with TPU. Not that there's anything wrong with XS, I just like TPU better

 

[blkhogan]

I'm a member here as well as over @ XS and I can say for certain that I'm going to be staying with TPU. Not that there's anything wrong with XS, I just like TPU better

Amen brother! TPU is my (tech) home and I will contribute all I can to its strength and longevity. As long as W1zz gives me a place to hang, I will support this cause.

 

[FordGT90Concept]

This was not once mentioned, nor hinted at in the post. You read into these things too much, eh?

It is implied: a race to beat a super computer.

 

[Chicken Patty]

I believe when we asked XS to join us for a crunching event awhile back, they had no interest. I would be willing to join them for this, if they turned around and did the same for us. Otherwise I see no reason to do it. It's really a promotional idea to get more people crunching for their team.

You know Paul, if it wasn't for a particular group of "XS Refugees" we might not have been what we are now. They came in and really gave us a kick in the rear and got us going big time. For those who doubt, well I am truly appreciative of what they did and we owe a lot to them as well as other individuals like RAMMIE just to name one. However, XS was approached with an offer from us not long ago and we were turned down rather blunt with a stuck up answer, not even keeping in mind this was for one of our own. Not saying they had to agree on the offer, but there is a right way and a wrong way to turn someone or group down, they obviously didn't know the right way. However, good luck to them, Dave (movieman) is one heck of a person, don't know him very well but have gotten the chance to talk to him a few times and I must say there are only a few like him. But I WILL NOT join XS on this.

 

[(FIH) The Don]

The Cap'n has spoken, amen

 

[Chicken Patty]

The Cap'n has spoken, amen

Paul knows what I'm talking about, I'm sure he agrees.

 

[kid41212003]

I believe they asked their members. I thought this is for our forum?

 

[Fitseries3]

we could always do our own and fight them................

 

[PaulieG]

we could always do our own and fight them................

I think it's a big waste of time and energy, to be honest. The thing I admire most about this team is the internal motivation just because it's the right thing to do.

 

[PaulieG]

Paul knows what I'm talking about, I'm sure he agrees.

I know exactly what you are saying, and I completely agree.

 

[Fitseries3]

I think it's a big waste of time and energy, to be honest.

whoa.... REALLY?


Crunching, whether or not its for your team or someone elses team or just anonymously is not a big waste of time and energy.

i mean.... you HAVE been doing it for over a year now right?

and no.... please do not take this as a personal attack paul. this is meant for ALL of you.

 

[PaulieG]

whoa.... REALLY?


Crunching, whether or not its for your team or someone elses team or just anonymously is not a big waste of time and energy.

i mean.... you HAVE been doing it for over a year now right?

and no.... please do not take this as a personal attack paul. this is meant for ALL of you.

Easy there, big guy. Trying to surpass a super computer? I don't waste my time with thoughts like that. Please back off the drama...The crunching is very important to me. The XS competition isn't important to me.

 

[btarunr]

When XS site went down, some of them did fold/crunch and post for TPU. Give credit where due.

 

[Fitseries3]

not starting drama.

this isnt a competition really.

its just a big benchmark really.

and it is very possible that this will happen and MMs goal will be surpassed.

whether or not you are partaking in the task is entirely up to you and i am not telling anyone they should do this.